St Mark the Evangelist Church is a Church of England parish church in Upper Hale, Surrey. It is a red brick structure, fairfaced inside and out, with an aisle-less nave and small chancel adorned with a "fine" and "original" set of murals by local artist Kitty Milroy. The church was consecrated in 1883.
History
St Mark's is a daughter church to St John the Evangelist Church, Hale, Surrey. The church was built largely due to the efforts of the Vicar of Hale, John Powell, encouraged by many parishioners, tradition has it that the locals collected flints from the common to build the walls. The parishioners of the larger houses in Hale worshipped at St John's but the servants couldn't attend because they were working at that time. St John's was at the southernmost edge of the parish and the servants were too scared to walk in the dark. Consequently, the vicar started services for the servants at the local school. When the congregation had grown large it was clear that another church was needed in the parish.
St Mark's was dedicated by the Bishop of Winchester Harold Browne on 14 July 1883, the eve of St Swithun's Day, and the first communion was on the following day. Hence, the Centenary Window depicts St Swithun. The newspaper article at the time reported on the opening of St Mark's Mission Church parish writing it was situated in "a very poor and populous part of the parish of Hale, some little distance from St John the Evangelist, which for a considerable time has been felt to be totally inadequate to the requirements of the district."
The church was granted Grade II listed status in December 2021.
Interior features
Tudor Altar
The altar is Tudor in style and has an inscription "GIVEN BI HENRIE LVNNE 1608", 275 years before St Mark's was built. It is believed to have come from St Andrew's Church, Farnham, as an article from the Surrey Advertiser on 4 December 1880 says:
“A working party of ladies in Farnham have presented a new altar to the Parish Church. This, with a new altar cloth, was placed in the church on St Andrew’s Day, Nov. 20th. The old altar and altar cloth have been accepted by the Vicar of Hale for the use of a church which it is intended to begin next year at Hale Common.”
Pipe Organ
Initially the singing in the church was accompanied by a harmonium. But thanks to a legacy from a local woman, Emily Mangles (1844-1912), a pipe organ was installed on All Saints' Day 1912. The organ was built by Samuel Frederick Dalladay of Hastings, it is a good and early example of his smaller organs, well built and tonally pleasant. Some later work was undertaken on it at a later date by George Osmond, but it remains a largely authentic instrument. The organ is affectionately known as "Emily".
Wall Paintings
The sanctuary is adorned with a wall painting scheme executed between about 1911 and 1920 by a local artist, Kitty Milroy. Her work is exceptional for a number of reasons: Few women artists made their mark during this period. Milroy's idiosyncratic paintings illustrate the Annunciation and the Benedicite. In the latter, monumental figures personify seasonal attributes; at dado level, painted roundels include representations of local scenes and views. Imaginatively conceived and executed, blending influences from European Symbolist painting and the Arts and Crafts Movement. Kitty Milroy's paintings stand at a critical point in the stylistic and technical development of mural practice in England, and have considerable local and national importance. She was unusual in persisting with the complex spirit fresco technique into the 20th century. Kitty Milroy's artistic and technical skill are considerable, and examination and analysis of her scheme shows that she availed herself of the wide range of pigments that were available in the early 20th century.
Stained Glass
In around 1955, two stained glass windows were installed, depicting St Mary and St. Agnes. The first of the two came from the chapel of the Mary Yolland Children's Home, about half a mile down the road from the church in Yolland Close. A third, showing St Mark was added some years later. It was made by John Blyth (1915 – 99), of Markinch in Fife, Scotland who signed his work by incorporating a small bumble bee. He was apprentice to the famous glass maker, William Wilson (artist). The window contains a piece of red, sixteenth century, semi-precious glass in the centre of the bible which St Mark is holding.
Choir Vestry
As the choir grew it became obvious that a Choir Vestry was needed and, larger through the efforts of the men of the congregation. This was built and ready for dedication early in 1959.
